I'm Back!

Well after my unintentional 6+ month hiatus - I'm back!

We had such a busy summer that there was no time for blogging and not much time for sewing either!

We went to Acadia National Park & The Great Smoky Mountain National park among other trips and had a fun filled summer.

Hiked to the top of Mt LeConte!

View from Chimney Tops

Now that fall is here things have become a bit less hectic so I should have more time to devote to sewing.

I just finished up some bee blocks and have a few tops ready for quilting so there will be more to share soon.

Heal @ do.Good Stitches

Heal @ do.Good Stitches

That Stash Bee

xo
Kelsey

Stash Bee - March

I've been in the Stash Bee for quite a while now and March is my month to be the Queen Bee!! 

I want to share what I'm asking everyone to make for me since I'm so excited about this quilt!

I asked everyone to please make one large Cracker Scrap block with white background and scrappy red and blue for the colors.  My husband and I got married on the 4th of July and I'd love to have a 4th of July/Americana quilt!

I directed them to the great tutorial from Cut To Pieces with my adjustments below.

The large block in the tutorial is made of two parts with white focus and two with color focus.  I changed it up and asked for them all to be color focused.  If you want to make a fully color focused block for yourself  these are the pieces you'll need to cut:

• 4 - 6" Squares White (cut diagonally into 2 triangles)
• 4 - 2.75" x 7.25" White
• 2 - 6" Squares Red (cut diagonally into 2 triangles)
• 2 - 6" Squares Blue (cut diagonally into 2 triangles)
• 4 - 2.75" x 7.25" Red
• 4 - 2.75" x 7.25" Blue

Make two red units and two blue units.  Then piece your four units into one block with the colors opposite each other and all colored points in the middle like mine below.  The finished size will be 19.5" Square!

Are you in any bees?  What block did you ask for when it was your turn as Queen Bee?

January Bee Blocks

I'm still here!  I've been so busy sewing that I haven't had any time for blogging!!  I have two commissioned quilts to start/finish and then things will hopefully settle down.

In the meantime I thought I'd share my bee blocks from January.

do.Good Stitches

That Stash Bee

Stash Bee

I really enjoy participating in bee groups.  It gives me a chance to try new blocks without committing to a whole quilt!

I'll be back soon with some more finished quilts including a SWOON!

Stash Bee Blocks

 First up - the winner of the Charming Travelers packet is Mina from Kinda Quilty!

I just have to share the November Stash Bee blocks that I made for Jess of SewCraftyJess.  I LOVED making these blocks!!  I definitely see one of these quilts in my future :)






I have 3 quilts to bind, a few more bee blocks and a new quilt to cut out this weekend!  What are your stitchy plans?

W.I.P Wednesday 11-28-12

I've been working a lot on prioritizing my sewing lately.  It's not always fun.  Some (most) days I want to just sew whatever I want but I have things I need to do so those come first.  I knocked a big one out last week - all of my 4x5 Bee blocks were finished and mailed!!!

 

I used the Supernova pattern from Craftsy and I highly recommend it!  

I've also been quilting away and have three (!!) quilts that just need binding - hopefully tonight.  Here's a peek at one of them.

Those quilts, a few more bee blocks and one more quilt to start and finish and I'll be done with everything I have to do this year!

What do you have to finish by the end of the year?!

Linking up at Freshly Pieced.

 

Weekend Update

First things first - The 100 Day Hustle link-up winner of the $25 Fat Quarter Shop gift certificate is Marla!

2-59 since #1 was my test link!

I did a bit of sewing this weekend and managed to finish my blocks for Jennifer's Hurricane Sandy Relief quilts.  She isn't collecting any more quilt blocks but is accepting other supplies like binding in order to finish all of the quilts.  Check out the Flickr group to see what is needed.  I made two of each color scheme and sent them out today. 

I also had time to finish putting together my quilt top for the Tula Pink Sew Along that Sara organized.  I really wanted to use bigger cuts to showcase some of the larger prints.  This pattern is adapted from a tutorial video from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  The finished top measures 70"x70".  Now I need to decide how to quilt it - I'm stumped on what thread color to use!

Completed Quilt Top!

Close up of the center

You can check out all of the Sew Along entries by heading over to the Flickr group.

Linking up at {Sew} Modern Monday as well!

Weekend Sewing

I spent lots of time sewing this weekend! It was lovely.  I did break for a few hours to de-leaf our yard and enjoy the nice weather.

I started working on my blocks for 4x5 Bee hive mates.  I'm making the Supernova block from Craftsy.  This one is for Becky of My Fabric Obsession.  She asked for navy, aqua and green this round.  I love how this one turned out!

I also decided that it was time to work on finishing my On a Whim out of Amy Butler prints.  I managed to finish getting all the blocks pieced yesterday!  Now they just need to be put into rows.

I also put in some time working on my Sparkling Cider quilt!  This was supposed to be a Christmas gift for my husband but I'm a terrible secret keeper and I already spilled the beans - oops!

According to USPS the backing fabric for my leaf quilt is being delivered today!!  I have one 4x5 bee block that I am mid-piece on so as soon as I finish that it's on to basting and quilting!!

Did you do any sewing this weekend?  Did you go to Sewing Summit?

Linking up at Manic Monday, Plum & June and AmyLouWho's virtual sewing room!

Dots on Dots Hop - Rainbow Dots Block

Hi!  If you're stopping over for the Dots on Dots, welcome!  I'm so happy to be sharing my block with all of you today.

When I decided to join in this hop I knew exactly what fabrics I wanted to use.  I have  had a rainbow polka dot charm pack from Connecting Threads for a while which was perfect for this block.  

I pulled out the primary rainbow colors, Red, Orange Yellow, Green, Blue and Violet, paired them with some crisp Kona White and then turned them into cute little half square triangles.  I pieced them in opposite directions for each row and added some white border to frame the block and finish it out at 12.5".  I think I'm going to turn this into a mini table topper for my nightstand!

A very big Thank You to Corrie from Quilt Taffy and Madame Samm from Sew WE Quilt for putting together this month's great blog hop!  Head over to Quilt Taffy to see the entire hop schedule. 

See who else is posting today below.  Be sure to stop by and see their dotty blocks!

A Quilt and A Prayer

Krislovesfabric 

Kelsey Sews

Gmama Jane

501quiltblocks 

Cherry Blossoms 

Quilting Linda 

Sheila's Quilt World

The Sunflower Patch

Super Sunday!

So remember on Thursday when I posted my list of things to get done - Knocked. It. Out!!

1. August & September do.Good Stitches blocks   Done!
2. September Stash Bee blocks   Done!
3. Finish my Friendship Quilts Blog Hop Project  Done!
4. Make my Polka Dot Block Done!

It was such a nice day out on Sunday and I wanted to enjoy the sunshine so I set up a little sewing station in the family room, instead of the basement where I usually sew, and got to work!

Here are all the bee blocks:

Stash Bee September Block

Heal @ do.Good Stitches - August Blocks Top Row, September Blocks

I'll be sharing my Friendship Quilt project on Thursday and my Polka Dot block on 9/17 so check back then.

Now as soon as my Connecting Threads order is delivered I can start my Leaf Quilt!!! SO EXCITED!

Did you get anything accomplished this weekend?  Watch any Football?  The Browns and the Bills were a let down :(

PS. Linking up at Manic Monday!

WIP Wednesday 8-15-12

When I looked today to see when I posted last I was flabbergasted that it's been almost a whole month!  This summer has been going by SO FAST, but I'm 100% okay with it and am most definitely ready for Fall.  Things are finally settling down and I'm happy to have more time to sew and post. 

I have lots to share so I'll keep the Instagram pictures plentiful.  Here's what I've been up to for the past month:

Made Pickles!!  They were supposed to taste just like Claussen - they were close but I used the wrong dill, still tasty though!

Yes my counters are teal and my back splash is mauve

Added (LOTS) more fabric to my growing stash!  I went on a bit of a fabric bender and this lovely bundle is one that made it to my house :)

Birds & Berries FQ Bundle

Started a new quilt for myself!!  Did a bit of cutting and am almost done turning some Amy Butler lovelies into an On a Whim.

Went to the beach!!  We went up to the shores of Lake Erie for our annual trip with the husband's family.  Lots of sun, beer and some grown men in American Flag speedos made for a great trip :)

Long story short, I got fed up with my sewing machine always breaking and my parents picked this lovely up for me while we were at the beach!  Now I need to play catch-up on some bee-blocks!

Bernette 92C

Started (another) new quilt!  My sister-in-law moved up her wedding date so I have 3 weeks to finish - eek!  More on this tomorrow.

 

Psst - I'm 3 followers away from 100 - which means we're 3 away from a giveaway!

Also, check out the Friendship Quilts Blog Hop that Diane announced today!  There are some great bloggers participating and there is even a link-up at the end with prizes.  I'm posting on 9/13.

Linking up over at Freshly Pieced - be sure to stop by and see what everyone else is working on.

June do.Good Stitches

This month in the Heal Circle of do.Good Stitches we got to make any star block out of solids.  I love stars so I used this as an opportunity to try two new blocks I've never made before.

The first I chose was an Ohio Star - I do live in Ohio!  I used this McCall's pattern and it came together so quickly.  I am considering making a mini or a throw out of these.  Wouldn't the points look neat when you pieced several together?!


Ohio Star

 The next block was a bit more challenging -  a paper pieced star!  This is the Whirling Star from Faith's Solstice Stars Series.  I've only paper pieced a few times and was a bit nervous but the templates and instructions were perfect so it went together without a hitch.  Now I want to go back and make all the stars from the series!



Whirling Star

If you haven't joined do.Good stitches yet, please do!  You can check out the Flickr group and sign up for the waitlist here.  It's so rewarding to use a hobby I love to help make quilts for others.  You only have to make a few blocks a month and you get to make new friends in your circle! 

I'll be whipping up my Stash Bee blocks tonight so hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with more to share!

WIP Wednesday 5/9/12

Spring has finally arrived in Ohio so I've been doing a lot of gardening and not much sewing.

Lots of this!

I have managed to get a few things done though!

Finished:

• Hometown Charity Quilt  - More on this here

• Swoon Block #4 - Only 5 more to go!  Slowly but surely I will finish this quilt

In - Progress:

• Modern She Made Swap - I finally decided on what I'm making my partner for the swap and started getting everything cut out

New:

• Double Wedding Ring - I don't have any pictures yet, but I'm making a double wedding ring quilt from all of my scraps.  I'm using this pattern and The Plaid Scottie's QAL and have about half of the arches pieced.  Pictures soon!

Linking up over @ Freshly Pieced.  Be sure to stop by and see what everyone else is working on this week.

WIP Wednesday - 4/18/12

What a busy week!!  I have so many new projects I want to start but I have a few that I have to get finished before I can start them.

Finished:

• April Bee Blocks - I'm in the Heal @ Do.Good Stitches group and a member of the Stash Bee.  I managed to wrap up my April blocks early!

1. Stash Bee - Granny Square #2, 2. Stash Bee - Granny Square #1, 3. http://flickr.com/photos/68555546@N06/7085544245/, 4. Heal @ Do.GoodStitches

• I*Spy Quilt Tutorial -  Finished & Posted!  Would love to know if anyone tries it.



In-Progress:

• Hometown Charity Quilt - I basted it last night and have about 3/4 of the quilting done!  I should be able to finish quilting it and get the binding put on tonight or tomorrow.

Basted!

No new projects until I get the Hometown quilt finished but I have lots of ideas swirling!!  Also there are a few spots left in the Aqua & Red Charm Swap; we'd love to have you.

Linking up over at Freshly Pieced - be sure to go and see what everyone else is working on.

Just a Bee Block Kind Of Night

I finished the Hometown Charity Quilt Top but instead of making the backing and basting, I decided to procrastinate that and finish all of my April bee blocks instead.

For the April Heal @ Do.Good Stitches group we're making the Ribbon Star Blocks by Faith.

For the April Stash Bee we're making Granny Squares for Angie.  I raided the stash for these - hoping she likes them!

Do you have any bee blocks you're working on this month?